Stretcher for trousers.



Hm T I M S om am STRBTGHER FOR TROUSERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28. 1907.

rsks cu.. wAsHmcroN, n. a

Umrnn s'rarns GEORGE R. SMITH, OF SHELBYVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE R. SMITH & OOM- 5 PANY, OF SHELBYVILLE, KENTUCKY.

sTREToHER Fon TROUSERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.'Eatented .Tune 2, 1908.

Application filed. August 28, 1907. Serial No. 390,527.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Stretchers for Trousers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trousers stretching and pressing devices, and has for its principal object to provide a simple, durable and compact device of this character in which trousers or other garments can be readily fastened, the entire stretcher with the trousers attached being designed to be folded to permit the same to be readily stored or packed within a small space,

A further object of the invention is to provide a fold able trousers stretcher of such. construction that when the parts of the stretcher are folded together they will exert tensional strain on the trousers and thus tend to preserve the same in proper shape.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, herein after fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings 1-Figure 1 is an elevation of a trouser stretcher and presser constructed in accordance with the invention. Eig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, the sections of the stretcher being folded. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a` portion of the stretcher. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the same on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end elevation illustrating a slight modification.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The stretcher is made in two main sections A and B, the section A consisting of converging side strips 1-1, an intermediate cross strip 2, and a combined end strip and clamp bar 3. The sectionB consists of convergent sidestrips 4-4 connected by an intermediate strip 5 and a combined end strip and clamp bar 6. The bar 3 connects the strips 1 at the lower end of section A, while bar 6 connects the strips 4 at the small' end of section B, and said strips 4 are so disposed as to normally aline with the stripsl 1, the same being connected 'thereto by means of hinges 7.

lt will be noted by referring particularly to Figs. 2' and 3 that the hinged connection is so arranged as to form a rule joint, so that the members A and B can fold together in but one direction. A roller 8 is ournaled at its ends between the two strips 1.

Arranged upon each bar 3 and 6 is a movable clamping bar 9 that is connected at one end by means of a spring 10, so shaped as to hold the movable bar. normally raised, or in open position. The opposite free end of the bar projects somewhat beyond the adjacent side of the section to and is arranged to receive a loop or yoke 11 which is pivoted in a web 12 carried by the frame portion of the stretcher. After the loop or yoke has been moved over the clamping bar, a locking Wedge 13 is introduced between the clamping bar and the adjacent end of the loop or yoke for the purpose of tightening the clamping barand holding the sam'e iirmlyin place.

In using the stretcher and presser, the sections A and B are swung into alinement with each other and brought toa stop by the engagement of the abutting ends of the section with each other at the hinge point. The

which it is connected,

two clamp bars 9 being free, the trousers are introduced between said bars and the end bars 3 and 6,- after which the clamping bars are moved down and the loops or yokes 11 are swung over in place. The wedges 13 are then introduced for the purpose of holding the clamping bars firmly in place.

It will be noted that the wedges are connected to the adjacent portions of the frame of the stretcher by short sections of chain 14 in order to prevent accidental loss.

It will benoted that the clamping bars, or either of them, have pads 16 of yieldable material in order to more rmly bind upon the trousers.

After the trousers have been properly clamped in place with the frame in the open position, the sections of the frame are folded ico4 to the position shown in Fig. 2., and in so doing the trousers will be stretched in the direction of their length and the stretching will be uniform and will be maintained so that the trousers will be kept in proper shape.

In the modiiied construction shown in Figi 5, a yoke 11 is p'ivoted directly-to one of the end bars and is arranged to swing over an adjacent clamping bar. This yoke is provided with a threaded opening for the reception of a clamping screw 18 which may be turned down against the clamping bar 9 for the purpose of holding the same tightly upon the garment.

l. A stretcher for trousers comprising tapered frame sections, the corresponding sides ofthe two sections alining and hingedly connected at their ends, a roller carried by one of the sections adjacent its points of connection with the' other section, a movable clamping bar upon one end of each section, a spring connection between one end of each movable bar and the adjoining portion ofthe section, said connection being fiXedly secured to the section and bar, a yoke hingedly connected to each section for embracing the movable bar, and means coeacting with each yoke for engaging the movable bar to clamp upon an object upon the stretcher.

2. A trousers stretcher comprising hingedly connected frame sections, a iixed clamping bar on each section, a movable clamping bar on each section, a yoke arranged to engage the movable clamping bar, and a wedge block insertible between the yoke and movable clamping bar to force the latter to clamping position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE R. SMITH,

Witnesses:

GEORGE N. MrDDELToN, LOUIS C. SMITH. 

